Alex Scott of England during the Women's International Friendly match between England and Sweden [GETTY]

England head to Cardiff looking to extend their 100% record for the campaign into their ninth and penultimate fixture while building on an impressive 4-0 friendly victory over Sweden, who are ranked fifth in the world, earlier this month.

The 29-year-old Arsenal right back, who has played every minute of qualifying so far, has helped Mark Sampson’s side boast the best defence in the European section, having conceded just once.

This side, though, is not in the defensive mould of previous England teams, having scored 18 times in their last four competitive games.

And Scott, set to win her 115th cap, is bubbling with her usual enthusiasm.

“We’re not looking too far ahead just yet,” she told Starsport. “But talk of the World Cup isn’t banned. It excites all of us.

“We’ve got a lot of new players who have never experienced the World Cup before so there’s always going to be a buzz around the team and a hope that we will get there.

“But Mark’s keeping us all focused and keeping our feet on the ground. We know Wales are going to be a tough opposition, so we have to stay switched on at all times.

“Every game, no matter whether it’s a friendly or a World Cup qualifier, we go in to win and put in a good performance. So going into this game we’ll definitely be going for the three points and not just looking for the draw.”

England defender Alex Scott during the Women's International Friendly match between England and Sweden [GETTY]

“Every game, no matter whether it’s a friendly or a World Cup qualifier, we go in to win and put in a good performance”

Alex Scott

England, though, have seen all-time record goal-scorer Kelly Smith drop out of the squad with a knock.

Smith’s had a difficult season, featuring only once for England, as a substitute against Ukraine, and having had the added weight of taking on assistant manager duties at Arsenal after Shelley Kerr left the club in June.

Scott admits losing the experience that comes from scoring 46 England goals is a blow but insists the squad is well stocked with forwards to cope without the 35-year-old.

“Obviously having Kelly’s experience in the squad would be massive,” she said.

“But I think, going off the Sweden game, which she wasn’t involved in, we managed to produce the result that we did so at the same time as it being a massive loss with her not being there we’ve got players to come in.

“Fran Kirby, who played in that No.10 position, came away with woman of the match, so it’s really competitive in this squad at the moment, so we know if one’s pulling out, the people coming in are going to do just as good a job.

“Looking at this team, it’s exciting. You never know what the line-ups going to be and there is so many talented payers within this group.”

Scott, who’s played in two World Cups, in 2007 and 2011, and at the Olympics for Team GB in London 2012, says her and her team-mates will be driven on by last weekend’s success of the England women’s rugby team, who lifted the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Paris.

“It was so inspirational to see them do it,” she said.

“We were all behind them, we all watched it together as a team and sent a message of our support to them, because it’s about getting behind all women in different sports and wanting them to do well.

“It’s Team England, and we cheer on other sports just like we hope they would for us.”

England play Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium tonight at 7.05pm broadcast live on BBC Three.